Separable button



A Sept. 2s, 1926.

1,601,689 F. R. MATTESON SEPARABLE BUTTON Filed Sept. l, 1925 Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATESl PATENT QFFICE.-

l FREDRICK RAY MATTESON, OF TAUNTGYN MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO FRIE]lElylAbT- DAUGI-IADAY COMPANY, OF NGRTON, MASSACHISETTS, A` CORPORATION OIF MASSACHUSETTS.

SEPARABLE BUTTON.

Application filed September 1, 1925.l Serial No. 53,915.

This invention relates to separable buttons, and as applied in the present form re.- lates to a type oi separable button that is adapted for use in releasably holding to gether the opposite ends of cuits.

y It is the object oi the invention to provide a simple and reliable construction for a button of this type in which the means for locking the two parts or elements oiV the button shall .be positive and reliable in action, inexpensive'to construct and not neces l sarily 'dependent kupon spring catches for releasably interlocking the parts together.

In general' the invention comprises two separable button elements, each comprising a hollow shank with flanges or heads atits opposite endsY and loosely mounted coupling members which are positively held in locking positionwhen the parts are assembled which are. easily released Jfrom such locking position by pressure when it is desired to separate the button elements.

lThis and other features of the invention will be particularly explained in the following lspecilication yand will be dened in the claims hereto annexed..

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1` shows a; central section of the assembledl button with the parts in locking position; t

` Figure 2 is a similar view with the parts in released position to permit separation of the button elements. Figure 3 is a detail view of the plunger sprin. y I

Figure is, a detailview of the locking or lcoupling members.

In the practicelof this invention according to the form illustrated in the drawings,.

the socket member oi a air of co-actinO' 23 button elements comprises a hollow or tubular shank member 1, provided at its inward end (having reference to the assembled button) with an external flange 2, to which is fastened a vdisk 3 centrally apertured to leave an inwarly projecting ledge or shoulder 3a, for a purpose presently to be described. .'ihe'outer head of the socket element, as in the form illustrated in the drawingsycomprises a hollow lenticular head consisting of two cupped or bowed disks 4 and 5, whose edges are united together... the shanks being swedged and soldered or other- Vvex disks 8 and 9, secured together with the inner one firmly secured to the outer end of the shank 6. y

An intermediate disk 10 is also anchored between the two outside disks 8v and 9 to leave an annular space forming 'an annular seatv for there'ception of the outwardly turned iian'ges kor lips 12a of two approximately semicircular coupling members 12.' These couplingmembers, at their inner or coup'- ling ends, have their side or vertical edges cutaway to formell-shaped spaces between them to allow-themto rock toward each other at their inner ends.

A plunger 15 is formed with an enlarged head portion 111 and a contracted neck `portion 15a, thehead portion having an4 undercut annular shoulder 14aV to engage the langed'inner end 12b of the coupling members. The'parts are so'proportioned that the diameter of the head 14 is too great to allow it to pass into theinterior of thel coupling members 12 even when they are in expanded position, as shown in Figure 1. The outer end of the plunger 15 is formed with a reduced end 15c which passes through a central opening in the disk 9v of the head so as to leave a shoulder 15d.

A cap 16 is secured`V to this reduced'end, 15C ot the plunger, and is providedV with an` external flangel? to prevent its movement or 1withdrawal through the aperture in the dis r 9.

Any suitable torni of spring may be employed to normally retract the plunger and maintain its shoulder 14a in .engagement with. v

To interlock the button members they are placed in axial alignment with the flanges 2 and 7 in juxta-position, and are pinched together axially with pressure exerted upon the plunger which is thus forced into the position shown in Figure 2, allowing the coupling members 12 to rock inwardly to pass through the interior shoulder 3 of th socket member since, when the plunger is pushed inwardly, the narrow or tapered neck port-ion of the plunger comes opposite the flanged inner ends of the coupling members, whose lips 12b are rounded or bevelled to facilitate such movement by a sort of cam action. llpon releasing the plunger the spring 18 forces the plunger axially outward with reference to its supporting head 9, and the tapered portion of the neck of the plunger positively expands the coupling members into interlocking engagement with the interior lip or ledge 3a of the socket member, in which position the parts are positively fastened together. Thereafter, to separate the button elements the plunger is pressed inward so that the narrow part of its neck comes opposite the inner ends of the clutch members, allowing them to rock inwardly as the elements are drawn apart.

It will be observed that the action of the .clutching or coupling members 12 is entirely y positive, both when locking but-ton elements together as well as in unlocking or disengaging. The rounded or beveled outside edge, at the farther end of the cam lip 12b, riding against the edge of the ledge or shoulder 3, positively forces the coupling members 12 inwardly when the button elements are being snapped together, the axial pressure forcing together the button elements being exerted against the plunger to allow this inward contracting movement of the cam lip on the coupling members or aws until the lip has passed beyond the ledge or shoulder. The automatic return of the plunger.v when pressure thereon is released, forces the cam lip ends of the coupling jaws outward into engagement with the shoulder 3a, thus positively preventing withdrawal against any pressure that does not disrupt the parts. 0n the other hand, when the plunger is pressed in to allow release, the cam or bevel surface engagement between the under side of the cam lip and the engaged edge of the shoulder 3a prccuces a cam action, as the button elements are pulled apart, that positivelyV forces the coupling elements inward to permit separation.

Either the opposite corners of the shoulder 3a or of the cam lip 12b may be rounded orV beveled to produce the desired cam action.`

ln this case l have shown all the corners rounded to give a very easy cam action and as the jaws are positively held against contraction by the normally positioned plunger whose beveled cam surface adjacent to the stop shoulder 11ila has previ? ously forced them apart, such rounding ofv the corners does not impair the security of the interlocking engagement. As the locking jaws themselves are neutral as to outward and inward movement, being perfectly free to swing` or rock inwardly or outwardly, since they need not be under spring tension, the action is remarkably easy while engagement is entirely positive. l believe that l am the first to provide erlocking means an article of this l s in which the locking members themelves are positive in their action both in ocking together and releasng, neither of hem being` under spring tension.

l/Vhat l claim is:

1. ln a separable button the combination of two hollow vbutton elements provided with opposed flanges at their adjacent ends and having tubular Shanks connecting the,

respective flanges with outer enlarged heads, a pair of separate semi-tubular jaws fulcrumed in the enlarged head of the male member to prevent axial play' and extend through the shank of said male member into the interior of the shank of the receiving member, said jaws being provided with external lips at their inner ends located to pass beyond and interlockingly engage an interior ledge of the receiving member when the two buttons are assembled, and a sprinG-actuated j aw-expanding plunger mounte axially in said male member and normally retracted to expand said jaws into locking. engagement with ledge, while permitting the jaws to contract inside such ledge when the plunger is pressed inwardly.

2. A separable button embracing in coinbination two separately interlocked hollow button elements each comprising a tubular shank with an external flange at its inner end and an enlarged head at its outer end, a pair of semi-tubular locking jaws' fulcrumed in the head of the male member so as to be held positively against axialdisplacement therein in either direction, said jaws extending entirely through the shank of the male element and into the shank of the receiving element, an axially disposed jaw-expanding plunger projecting through and beyond both ends of the tubular jaws a bowed spring mounted in the enlarge head of the male element to have retracting engagement with said plunger to keep the jaws normally expanded, said jaws having,

v at their inner ends, exterior lips adapted to of two hollow interlocking button elements, each comprising an enlarged outer head, a tubular shank having at its inner end an annular exterior flange, one of said button elements being provided, near its inner end, with an annular inwardly projecting ledge` a pair of semi-tubular locking jaws extending through the shank of the male member and having, at their inner ends, exterior approximately `semi-circular locking lips arranged to engage said interior ledge when the elements are assembled, said semitubular jaws having their adjacent longitudinal edges cut away to yform V-shaped notches when the jaws are assembled to allow them to lock togeth-er, and having their outer ends formed with fulcral anges interlocked with the enlarged head of the male member, and an expanding springretracted plunger of circular cross section disposed axially inside said jaws and having a substantially frustro-conical expanding surface engaging the interior end edges of said jaws throughout their total circumference to positively force them against the interlocking ledge, said plungerv being formed with an annular r-ecess adjacent to said expanding surface to allow the jaws to contract away from said ledge when the plunger is pressed in.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

FREDRICK RAY MATTESON. 

